Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-26

danger OF upSettlnK eacnI mOUen8 the
waves becoming wilder all the time. Our
condition was truly miserable. Oh! l
cannot dwell upon it, My dear mother s
pale face rises befole me as she leaned
down and kissed me, but she said not a
word The next thing remember is a
deafening crash and a sharp cry from
mother. was struck by something and
Consciousness left me.
81 can recollect opening my eyes rs II
from a profound sleep. The sun was
smiling down from hIue and cloudless
sky. i raised myself AID found the ocean
at my feet. 1t was IS placid as lake.
I wss lying ON the wet beach not three
feet from whsse the waves were ripping
on the sand. My clothes were dripping
wet. The occurrences Of the storm came
to Inc like an electric shock. My first
thoughts were regarding father and
mother. Were they safe Or-but
reached the horrible alternative! About
thirty feet away ! saw the canoe cast
high and dry upon the beach. Its side
was stove In where 1t struck the rock,
Running up TO il ] saw II was empty.
Along the stretch of beach NO other object
was discernible.
81 eyed the expanse of water and per-
ceived dark object bobbing up and down
in the surf A closer view revealed what
caused my blood to almost freeze in my
veins, That which was the sport OF the
waves were the bodies of my dear parents.
They were clasped together. Overcoming
the feeling of horror and sickness that
came over me, dashed into the water up
to my waist, and, with almost superhu.
man strength, brought the bodies out Of
the water. Dragging them 10 dry spot
l fell over the cold forms in p dsathly
faint. ] recovered my senses only "a
faint again. will not dwell upon what
followed. sobbed and moaned where
lay all day and night, and prayed that
might die beside my father and mother.
The following day was calner. and
using one OF the broad bladed oars OF
the canoe, which ! found under one OF
the seats of the vessel, dug . deep
hole in the sand and laid the bodies OF
my father and mother in the grave.
was SO stunned and overcome with an
guish that the occurrences OF the two or
three following days are dim In my mem
ory. ! know found some water soaked
food in the locker Of the canoe, and that
j "hucu Jul W hLAS tOVAs ~ ~" sAsAS
and gathered shell.ish. In . grove OF
cocoanut trees near the shore ! discov-
cred a spring Of fresh water, As strength
returned to ms ] resolved 10 explore the
vicinity and see II could learn where
was. Being afraid OF meeting hostile
natives. ! acted with great caution, mov-
ing stealthily through the palm groves.
AT night laid down in some sheltered
nook and used fern leaves ~ protection
against the damp dews. Four days passed
and learned that WAS on small island,
which appeared to be uninhabited except
by nasty looking species Of bat and small
pigs and rats. The pigs were wtlc and
savage. and'I had to evade them to avoid
being attacked. My only sustenance was
cocoanuts and q species Of wild berries.
The nuts found on the ground, where
they had fallen during storms. Accord
ing 10 my reckoning, about three months
of this monotonous existence passed away.
My clothes were worn into tatters. Every
morning bathed in the sea and made q
frugal meal on fruit. The rest Of the day
l spent in exercise and reading a stained
copy Of the Bible, which ! found In the
locker Of the canoe. did not fail to
place fresh greens on my parents grave.
The canoe when turned over made a COM
Portable abiding place at night, crawling
into il through the hole in the siGe. There
were three storms during my stay there
OF course was drenched. ! think that
II my existence rs a Crusoe had lasted
much longer l would either have gone
crazy or died. As it was, the consolation
afforded one by reading the Bible gave me
strength.
lone day saw a party Of natives land
from q canoe. l hid and watched them.
and soon recognized among them several
friendly faces had seen at the Wesleyan
school at Kanaavu. l called to them, and
on coming up they knew me. cannot
tell how glad 1 was to be taken in their
canoe to the colony at kandavu, where l
was heartily welcomed. The deepest re-
gret was expressed over the death of my
poor parents. That is all have to say in
relation to the subject. l determined to
follow up the good work Of my father,
and think have been successful. The
treacherous ko-Ko was banished from
the island and died in leprosy colony a
year or so afterward. had my parents
remains removed from the lonely island
and decently Inferred at Kandavu.''-San
Francisco Call.